Vehicle-spring



(No ModeL) G. A. RICHARDS. VEHICLE SPRING.

No. 427,189. Patented May 6, 1890 UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

GEORGE A. RICHARDS, OF NEWV LONDON, CONNECTICUT.

VEHICLE-SPRING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,189, dated May 6, 1890.

Application filed February 25, 1890. Serial No. 341,679. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. RICHARDS, a citizen of New London, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Springs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,-clear, and exact description or the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in vehicle-springs, the object being to produce a vehicle-spring which shall be simple in construction and effective in the performance of its functions.

A further object is to so construct a vehicle spring that it shall be self-adjusting and its carrying capacity shall exceed that of a semielliptical spring, whereby it will accommodate itself equally to one or more riders.

Afurther obj ect is to so construct the spring that it will work compactly, will not spread the body of the vehicle nor Wear into the same, and so that it will not twist the sills of the vehicle nor strain the bolts.

A further object is to produce a.vehiclespring which will be practically noiseless in its operation.

A further object is to produce a springcushion made of a single piece of metal, and to so construct and arrange the same that a large cushion may be employed.

Vith these objects. in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents an elevation, partly in section, of my invention. Fig. 2 is a view of a modification.

A represents the bottom board of a vehicle, preferably having a recess a in its under face at or near each end, B B the side-boards of the vehicle, and C C the sills of the vehiclebody.

Located beneath the vehicle-body at each end thereof is a metal spring-bar D, which is secured to the under face of the bottom board A by means of suitable bolts 1) at or beyond opposite ends of the recess a and to the sills C by means of suitable bolts 0. The springbar D extends from one side-board B of the vehicle to the other, and at its ends said spring-bar is bent upon itself and extended inwardly toward the center of the spring-bar in the form of loops to produce spring-cushions F. The cushions F are so bent as to nearly meet at the center of the spring-bar E. A spring G is secured at its center to the spring-bar D and cushions F by means of bolts 6 f or other means, said bolts passing through the spring-bar, the spring, and the ends of the cushions F, thus binding these parts together at a point in line with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. By making the recess ain the under face of the bottom board of the vehicle it will be seen that a springing or vibrating action is permitted to the springbar D.

With the combination of united spring bar and cushion, as above described, attached to a spring, the vehicle-body can be hung low, and it will retain its easy-riding qualities ir respective of the weight carried. The above combination will not spread the body of the vehicle or wear into the same; will not twist the sills nor strain the bolts; is absolutely noiseless; gives one-third longer cushion than any other in use, so far as I am aware, (for same width of body,) which prevents bending or breaking of springs, and will not allow it to strike the reach. It willprevent the rolling motion of the vehicle (which is a very valuable consideration) and still retain the center vibration, giving to the spring perfect freedom of action in all its parts and decreasing its liability to break. It also saves a spring-bar to the carriage-builder in making a carriage, as one is not needed, while the cost of applying this invention will be but little (if any) greater than that of other cushion-springs now in use.

My improvement is also applicable for use ends of the piece being bent around and secured to the spring-bar at or near its center, and a separate spring secured to the spring bar and cushion, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a spring bar and cushion made of a single piece of metal and bent to produce loops at opposite sides of its center, and a spring secured at its center to the spring bar and cushion by the same bolts or devices which hold the ends of the cushion to the spring-bar, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a spring-bar bent to produce loops or cushions, the free ends of said cushions being secured to the spring-bar at or near its center, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a spring-bar bent to produce loops or cushions, the ends of said cushions beingso bentas to meetor nearly meet at the center of the spring-bar, a spring, and bolts passing through the sp ring-bar, cushions, and spring and securing these parts together at a point in line With the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with a Vehicle-body having a recess in its bottom, of a spring-bar secured to the bottom of the vehicle and extending across said recess, said spring-bar being bent to produce spring-cushions, and a spring secured to the spring bar and cushions, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GEO. A. RICHARDS. WVitnesses:

LEWIS DANIELS, HENRY D. MILDEBERGER. 

